|
|
|
|
|
Punta San Fernando, Desert Oasis
In addition to the Lines, San Fernando is the highlight of Nasca Desert. Punta San Fernando is a little-known desert and coastal oasis – like an undiscovered Paracas – where visitors can view sea lions, seals, penguins and even desert rarities, such as South American condors and guanacos, in a beautiful bay along a stretch of undeveloped coastline. The only way to get there is via an adventurous, scenic 6-hour roundtrip in a specially equipped dune buggy or 4x4 truck across the desert sands. Trips organized by Casa Andina are strictly controlled to protect the fragile ecosystem of the coastal desert. On windy afternoons, it can get surprisingly chilly, despite the intense sun, so a windbreaker or other jacket – in addition to binoculars and strong sunscreen. |
|
| |
|
Cerro Blanco & Desert Dunes
Cerro Blanco is the highest sand dune in South America (2,080 m/6,824 ft), and adventurous travelers can descend it walking, go sand boarding, or travel across it by open-air dune buggy for a sense of the overwhelming dimensions of the coastal desert. This activity can be arranged by writing to travel@casa-andina.com |
|
| |
|
Palpa Lines
Though much less known than the Nasca Lines, Palpa is replete with archaeological interest. Near the Panamerican Hwy, Palpa and Nasca, is the Llipata observatory, which allows one to appreciate the magnificent geoglyphs of Palpa from up close. These images were created by the Paracas culture and are even more ancient than those of Nasca (one reason why plenty of observers prefer Palpa to Nasca). Palpa can be combined with a visit to observe the petroglyfs of Chichictara, the Sun Dial Geoglyph (easily observed from the town of Sacramento), the lost city of Huayuri, el Huarango Milenario (NES: ¿?), and more. Overflights of Palpa can be arranged in tandem with overflights of the Nasca Lines. |
|
| |
|
Historian Josué Lancho
Near the house site of Maria Reiche one finds this historian, who organizes outings for tourists and investigators interested in demonstrations of Reiche’s theories (such as how ancient cultures danced within the Nasca Lines in order to “animate” the drawings). A serious and respectable presentation and good show. Lancho may be contacted at: Calle Callao 771, Nasca, Ica. Tel: (056) 522-327. |
|
|
|
For additional information on arranging Off the Beaten Track activities in the Nasca area write us to: travel@casa-andina.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| QUICK LINKS |
|
| Casa Andina Hotels in Nasca |
| Casa Andina Activities in Nasca |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
More than 15 years of publications, including 220 books and guides about Peru and its environment. |
|
|
More than 15 years of publications, including 220 books and guides about Peru and its environment, five encyclopedias and more than 1,000 articles in magazines in Peru and abroad. He is considered the most prolific publisher on ecological topics in the country in the last decade. Forest engineer, journalist, publisher, professional photographer and analyst of environmental topics, Wust is the only Peruvian to publish five articles in National Geographic magazine. Currently he is the director of Wust Ediciones. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Ten years crisscrossing Peru, producing 240 TV programs on diverse topics. |
|
|
Ten years crisscrossing Peru, producing 240 TV programs on diverse topics. A journalist and writer, for nearly a decade he has directed and hosted the TV program Tiempo de Viaje, in which he travels throughout Peru (and occasionally other countries), documenting natural, historical and human scenes infrequently visited by conventional tourism. His perspective is not that of a tourist, but of a traveler, who immerses himself in what he finds and shies away from nothing in his reporting. He is also the author and/or publisher of an extensive series of books about Peruvian culture. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The author of 15 travel guides to cities and countries around the world, including 4 editions of Frommer’s Peru. |
|
|
The author of 15 travel guides to cities and countries around the world, including 4 editions of Frommer’s Peru, and articles on subjects ranging from the travel industry to food and wine. A travel writer, journalist and photographer, Schlecht first traveled to Peru and trekked to Machu Picchu as a student in 1983, and he has returned repeatedly to Peru over the last two decades. He has also been a consultant on international development projects for the European Union and USAID, as well as a correspondent for a Spanish art magazine. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
With nearly 15 years of travel experience, and having lived in different places in Peru. |
|
|
With nearly 15 years of travel experience, and having lived in different places in Peru. Agronomist, theologist, and holding an M.A in Amazonian anthropology. He’s lived 7 years with the Aguarunan people of Alto Marañon; also in Huanchaco (Trujillo), Urubamba (Cusco), and Madre de Dios. Consultant in tourism, collaborator for several media resources and professor of Sustainable Tourism Diploma at Ruiz de Montoya University. |
|
|
|
|
